I do not remember just when I left the kids dad, but as I recall not much changed. I was in Hutch and immediately went to work at Skaets Steak Shop as a waitress. That was the good part about Skaet. When I was first out on my own, I washed dishes at Skaets for a man named Norman Duschene who was the man who first started the place. After that there were other owners, but always a Bartholomew working in some capacity there. So when I left the husband and returned to Hutchinson, it was only natural that I go to work at Skaets. I think my sister Donna was there at that time. My mother was working at the Red Rooster. Ruth and Al Herrington were the owners than. I had never waited tables in my life, but I told them how experienced I was and they put me right to work.
Now I do recall that both Duane and I were having a little problem adjusting to this not being married stuff. I do not remember when we actually divorced, but we surely must have. The first Christmas I loaded the kids in the car and drove the 130 miles to his mom's house. Some how one of us missed the memo and he went to Hutchinson to my empty house. At that time he lived in Garden City. Hey! It has been a long time and a lot of water under the bridge, you know. I know the first year and a half was pretty confusing. We at one point, well several points actually, reconciled. I left Skaets and went to the Red Rooster where I met Gilbert who was a good friend of mothers and he and I became friends. I did not stay there very long because I was offered a job as short order cook at the Red Carpet by Bob Bailey. That was a dream come true, because I had always wanted to be a cook. So I bade the Red Rooster good bye and embarked on to greener pastures.
So now we are to the second Christmas. Duane did not come for this one. My dear Gibby helped me shop and then he played Santa. A note here about Gilbert. We always knew he was gay. But we loved that boy. He was so much fun and so kind. Later he was to move to California and be one of the first of many to die of AIDS. He became infected after I moved to Colorado and when I left Hutch I never saw him again. He did keep in touch and we planned to meet for Thanksgiving the year he died. Bad timing.
But back to Christmas. We had bought a miniature doll house for the girls. Metal. And it needed to be assembled which entailed folding out little metal tabs, putting them in a slot and folding them down. Well, we put the kids to bed and then decided maybe we should have a little eggnog with just a touch of Rum to celebrate the season. Let me be the first to say, sharp metal tabs, pointy pliers and eggnog laced with Rum is not a good combination. Nor is a couple drunks trying to climb a ladder and decorate a tall Christmas tree. In all fairness I must say I never dreamed a Christmas tree had that many pokey things on it and I would never have guessed how much blood you can smear on the little red wagon and the tinsel without some body passing out. How those kids slept through all that was more than I will ever know. Course Gib had to spend the night because he was too drunk to walk to the car. I actually slept under the tree since that was where I ran out of steam. I think he must have called someone to come get him cause he was gone the next morning.
The kids were thrilled that Santa had actually came and did all he did. Man so was I. He almost bankrupted me, but the kids were happy.
Lot happened there at 217 West 5th. Some good, some bad. I became manager of the Red Carpet, but restaurant work is rarely permanent. I left the Red Carpet and bought a place on 4th right across from MacDonalds. Named that one Lou's Kitchen Had that for a year and then fell in love and moved to Colorado. Course I fell out of love as quickly as I had fallen in, but such is life. Colorado has been good to me. I graduated college with a gold cord. Married a couple guys, one of which is the one I should have married in the first place. Helped start a construction company; well actually two construction companies. Started a trucking company. I have friends and I have people who tolerate me and I have a driving need to keep moving and changing, which I suppose is good, for the most part. I think this next year I am going to start downsizing. Who knows what that means exactly? Just hang with me and find out! But first I have to get through this Christmas.
Now I do recall that both Duane and I were having a little problem adjusting to this not being married stuff. I do not remember when we actually divorced, but we surely must have. The first Christmas I loaded the kids in the car and drove the 130 miles to his mom's house. Some how one of us missed the memo and he went to Hutchinson to my empty house. At that time he lived in Garden City. Hey! It has been a long time and a lot of water under the bridge, you know. I know the first year and a half was pretty confusing. We at one point, well several points actually, reconciled. I left Skaets and went to the Red Rooster where I met Gilbert who was a good friend of mothers and he and I became friends. I did not stay there very long because I was offered a job as short order cook at the Red Carpet by Bob Bailey. That was a dream come true, because I had always wanted to be a cook. So I bade the Red Rooster good bye and embarked on to greener pastures.
So now we are to the second Christmas. Duane did not come for this one. My dear Gibby helped me shop and then he played Santa. A note here about Gilbert. We always knew he was gay. But we loved that boy. He was so much fun and so kind. Later he was to move to California and be one of the first of many to die of AIDS. He became infected after I moved to Colorado and when I left Hutch I never saw him again. He did keep in touch and we planned to meet for Thanksgiving the year he died. Bad timing.
But back to Christmas. We had bought a miniature doll house for the girls. Metal. And it needed to be assembled which entailed folding out little metal tabs, putting them in a slot and folding them down. Well, we put the kids to bed and then decided maybe we should have a little eggnog with just a touch of Rum to celebrate the season. Let me be the first to say, sharp metal tabs, pointy pliers and eggnog laced with Rum is not a good combination. Nor is a couple drunks trying to climb a ladder and decorate a tall Christmas tree. In all fairness I must say I never dreamed a Christmas tree had that many pokey things on it and I would never have guessed how much blood you can smear on the little red wagon and the tinsel without some body passing out. How those kids slept through all that was more than I will ever know. Course Gib had to spend the night because he was too drunk to walk to the car. I actually slept under the tree since that was where I ran out of steam. I think he must have called someone to come get him cause he was gone the next morning.
The kids were thrilled that Santa had actually came and did all he did. Man so was I. He almost bankrupted me, but the kids were happy.
Lot happened there at 217 West 5th. Some good, some bad. I became manager of the Red Carpet, but restaurant work is rarely permanent. I left the Red Carpet and bought a place on 4th right across from MacDonalds. Named that one Lou's Kitchen Had that for a year and then fell in love and moved to Colorado. Course I fell out of love as quickly as I had fallen in, but such is life. Colorado has been good to me. I graduated college with a gold cord. Married a couple guys, one of which is the one I should have married in the first place. Helped start a construction company; well actually two construction companies. Started a trucking company. I have friends and I have people who tolerate me and I have a driving need to keep moving and changing, which I suppose is good, for the most part. I think this next year I am going to start downsizing. Who knows what that means exactly? Just hang with me and find out! But first I have to get through this Christmas.
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